MT. JULIET — Many have said that Mt. Juliet's football team hasn't played a tough enough schedule.

They said the Bears were in too weak of a region.

And, despite being unbeaten heading into Friday night's Class 6A second-round playoff matchup at home against Blackman, many called Mt. Juliet the underdog.

In a season filled with attempting to prove people wrong, Mt. Juliet did it once again with a 35-14 win over the Blaze.

"We proved we can play with Rutherford County teams," said Mt. Juliet quarterback Alvin Mixon, who scored three touchdowns. "All week, The Tennessean said we would lose 42-14. That was disrespecting our defense."

Mt. Juliet’s Connor Ruzek (9) sings the school anthem with his teammates after Mt. Juliet’s game against Blackman at Mt. Juliet High School in Mt. Juliet on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. Mike Clark/For The Tennessean

Mt. Juliet’s head coach Trey Perry and Blackman’s head coach Kit Hartsfield shake hands after Mt. Juliet’s game against Blackman at Mt. Juliet High School in Mt. Juliet on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. Mike Clark/For The Tennessean

Blackman’s cheerleader Lindsay Abernathy uses her pompoms to cover her face because she said she was cold before Mt. Juliet’s game against Blackman at Mt. Juliet High School in Mt. Juliet on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. Mike Clark/For The Tennessean

Mt. Juliet’s Marcello Walton (2) tries to hype up the Mt. Juliet student section during Mt. Juliet’s game against Blackman at Mt. Juliet High School in Mt. Juliet on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. Mike Clark/For The Tennessean

Mt. Juliet’s Colby Martin (11) fumbles the ball on the opening kickoff during Mt. Juliet’s game against Blackman at Mt. Juliet High School in Mt. Juliet on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. Mike Clark/For The Tennessean

Blackman’s Drew Beam (18) hands off to Blackman’s Jordan Brown (4) during Mt. Juliet’s game against Blackman at Mt. Juliet High School in Mt. Juliet on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. Mike Clark/For The Tennessean

Blackman’s Michaleous Elder (7) tries for a pass under tight coverage during Mt. Juliet’s game against Blackman at Mt. Juliet High School in Mt. Juliet on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. Mike Clark/For The Tennessean

Blackman’s Ta’Micus Napier (3) runs into the end zone but is called back on a penalty during Mt. Juliet’s game against Blackman at Mt. Juliet High School in Mt. Juliet on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. Mike Clark/For The Tennessean

Blackman’s Drew Beam (18) hands off to Blackman’s Ta’Micus Napier (3) during Mt. Juliet’s game against Blackman at Mt. Juliet High School in Mt. Juliet on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. Mike Clark/For The Tennessean

Blackman’s cheerleader Ady Layne Helton stands with her teammates during the national anthem before Mt. Juliet’s game against Blackman at Mt. Juliet High School in Mt. Juliet on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. Mike Clark/For The Tennessean

Mt. Juliet’s offensive line coach Curtis Grah speaks to his players before Mt. Juliet’s game against Blackman at Mt. Juliet High School in Mt. Juliet on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. Mike Clark/For The Tennessean

Mt. Juliet had a similar route to the playoffs last year, going unbeaten in regular-season play and being untested until the playoffs before being stunned by No. 4 seed Riverdale.

That might have left doubt about the Bears this year, despite rolling into Friday's contest with an 11-0 mark and having allowed just 5.3 points a contest.

"We had a lot of starters back from last year's team," said Mt. Juliet coach Trey Perry, whose squad is 22-1 over the past two seasons. "We've been working for this opportunity for a long time. I couldn't be prouder of the kids."

Mt. Juliet (12-0) gets to stay at home in the state quarterfinals against perennial semifinalist Oakland (11-1), which knocked off Hendersonville in Friday's second round.

That will be another huge test for Mt. Juliet. But after making the statement on Friday night, it's not one that will intimidate the Bears.

"We keep getting better and better and meeting the challenges," said Mt. Juliet defensive back Colby Martin. "We didn't need any motivation tonight. We put our best guys on their best guys.

"We had a good week of practice and we came out and executed."

Martin's fumble on the opening kickoff set Blackman (10-2) up for its first score (a Trey Knox 3-yard run), but Mt. Juliet reeled off 35 unanswered points from there.

After two TD runs by Mixon put the Bears up 14-7 at halftime, Michael Ruttlen broke things open with a 70-yard scoring run midway through the third. Mixon added a third TD run and Connor Ruzek scored on a 30-yard scamper in the second half.

"Give them credit," said Blackman senior running back Tamicus Napier. "They did what they needed to do. You have to respect them. They stood their ground."

Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.